Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem: Fatal Roller Coaster Accident at Six Flags Over Georgia, Reported October 25, 2026

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Details of the fatal accident were reported October 25, 2026. Witnesses described the ejection as occurring October 12.

Goliath remained closed as state and local officials investigated Kariem’s death. The ride used a lap-restraint system to secure passengers. Witnesses said Kariem rose out of his seat before he was ejected. Some people who rode Goliath earlier that day also reported concerns about the restraints.

Six Flags said it would add seat belts to Goliath and other coasters with similar restraints as an additional safety measure. The company had not identified all the other rides that would receive the belts or announced when the closed coasters might reopen.

Eight other Six Flags roller coasters with similar restraint systems remained out of service across the United States and Canada. Those closures affected parks in Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Ontario. Including Goliath, all nine closed coasters were manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard.

The restraint design places padding over a rider’s lap and upper legs, with a supporting bar positioned between the knees. Six Flags said it had brought in independent engineers and inspectors to review safety procedures across its theme parks.

Precautionary closures also extended beyond Six Flags. SeaWorld Orlando temporarily closed Mako, which uses a similar restraint system, and later reopened it after a weeklong shutdown. A roller coaster at La Ronde in Montreal was also temporarily closed.